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Summary

Crimes committed against people because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion have become common in the United States. According to the FBI, more than six thousand such crimes were committed in 2016 alone. Hate crimes can range from vandalism, such as the desecration of headstones in a Jewish cemetery, to mass shootings, such as the 2015 murders of nine African Americans attending church services in Charleston, South Carolina. Although many laws have been written to prevent and prosecute hate crimes, experts agree that stopping such offenses from occurring will not be easy.

Contents

How serious a problem are hate crimes? How are people hurt by hate crimes? How do laws address hate crimes? The challenges of bringing perpetrators to justice What can be done about hate crimes?

Published Reviews

Booklist Review: "This sobering look at hate crimes provides numerous examples that illustrate their breadth and seriousness. In 2016, according to the FBI, there were 6,121 reported hate crimes, with 7,615 victims. This book profiles the people who commit these crimes and shows how their actions affect individuals and their communities. It mentions well-known hate groups but emphasizes that lone individuals, not organized hate groups, are most likely to commit hate crimes. The significance of the 1998 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. cases, which spurred efforts to enact federal hate crimes law, is highlighted. The 2017 Charlottesville rally and 2015 murders at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., are described, as are lesser-known cases. The book explains why inconsistencies across states regarding who is protected under hate crime laws make prosecution difficult. It provides examples of anti-hate programs being implemented in schools to teach tolerance and inclusion. Statistics, photos, source notes, further research, and organizations to contact are also included. This timely and important resource will be useful for student reports.--Sharon Rawlins Copyright 2018 Booklist"From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.